Service History
Departing San Diego, California in May 1943, Block Island steamed to Norfolk, Virginia, to join the Atlantic Fleet. After two trips from New York City to Belfast, United Kingdom, during the summer of 1943 with cargoes of Army fighters, she operated as part of a hunter-killer group. During her four anti-submarine cruises, Block Island′s planes sank two submarines: U-220 in 48°53′N 33°30′W / 48.883°N 33.5°W / 48.883; -33.5 (German submarine U-220) on 28 October 1943 and U-1059 in 13°10′N 33°44′W / 13.167°N 33.733°W / 13.167; -33.733 (German submarine U-1059) on 19 March 1944. She shared credit with destroyer Corry and destroyer escort Bronstein for the sinking of U-801 in 16°42′N 30°20′W / 16.7°N 30.333°W / 16.7; -30.333 (German submarine U-801) on 17 March 1944 and with Buckley for U-66 sunk on 6 May 1944 in 17°17′N 32°29′W / 17.283°N 32.483°W / 17.283; -32.483 (German submarine U-66). Thomas, Bostwick, Borie and Bronstein sank U-709 on 1 March 1943 and the same day Bronstein got U-603.
Read more about this topic: USS Block Island (CVE-21)
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